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Site recommended for Ten Commandments monument at Capitol

This 5-foot tall stone slab bearing the Ten Commandments is shown near the Texas Capitol in Auston in 2002. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that that monument's placement was constitutional.

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 10/15/2009 7:46 PM
Last Modified: 10/15/2009 7:55 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Capitol architect on Thursday recommended that a Ten Commandments monument be placed on the north side of the building.

Duane Mass selected two possible locations, saying the north grounds were originally designated for monuments and provide a more reflective space.

“I think a bit of reverence is appropriate,” Mass told the Capitol Preservation Commission, which in December will select a location for the monument.

Legislation passed last session calls for the privately constructed monument on the Capitol grounds.

The north lawn is not adjacent to parking and has walkways near where the monument could be placed, Mass said. Therefore, the state would not have to build sidewalks for those who want to view the monument, the Capitol architect said.

Commission member Larry Warden expressed concern that the north lawn would not be easily accessible to those with handicaps.

Mass said he will also offer two more locations on the south side of the Capitol, the main entrance to the building. Mass said one of the previously considered locations on the south steps was tucked away behind some flags, which concerned him.

Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, author of the bill calling for the Ten Commandments monument, said locating it on the north side of the Capitol was fine with him.

The ACLU of Oklahoma, which lodged a successful challenge to a Ten Commandments monument at the Haskell County Courthouse, has expressed opposition to placing a monument at the Capitol but had no representatives at Thursday’s meeting.

Ritze has said previously that he will pay the estimated $10,000 for the monument and he believes it will withstand a legal challenge.

Commission member Louis Trost said the monument will be a great asset to the Capitol and he wants to make sure people will be able to see it.

“If I had my druthers, I would put it out there in the spotlight,” Trost said.

Paul Ziriax, State Election Board secretary and a member of the commission, said the Capitol’s north doors are locked, so accessing the monument from the north side of the building would involve a long trip around the building.

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Capitol's north side favored for monument," which was published on 10/16/2009. So far, 114 comments have been made.